Alaska and Canada Trip - Icefield Parkway

[bulldog]

Hi again
For anyone still interested, final leg of trip was coach from Jasper to Banff via a road called the ice field Parkway

Stunning views , stops along the way as you can see. So on with some more pictures.

Not actually on the parkway the Mendenhall glacier
IMG_1428 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_4963 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
This was first stop. The Athabasca glacier. It is retreating at about 30m a year and will not last that much longer.
From the base you get in an Ice explorer bus drive over the terminal and lateral moraines and up onto the glacier. Lot of streams of meltwater everywhere and large lake at base where it has retreated from. However great experience to walk around on a glacier.
IMG_4995 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1599 2 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_4975 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_4972 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_4965 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Hanging glacier where main glacier retreated
IMG_4973 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Then onto the scary Glacier Skywalk. Not my kind of thing but I walked round it, boy is it high!!

IMG_4985 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_4973 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Final stop was to view blue lake from all the "rock flour" which affects refraction of light giving the blue colour
IMG_5005 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

Last stop Banff. Lovely town , stunning views. Main street with mountains each end
IMG_5032 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_5013 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_5054 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_5040 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Above is view from 8000ft from top of "Sulphur Mountain"
IMG_5065 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_5068 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

So that was our trip. Hope everyone interested enjoyed the pictures, if anyone wants any further details please pm me.
Clive

[viscount]

Great shots Clive. Bring back memories of a massive road trip undertaken near 40 years ago around the National Parks of Western Canada and Western USA. Have to dig out my photos of the Athabasca Glacier, which at the time of my visit was in a state of receding slowly, with small advances some years after a colder winter. The views of Banff from the Cable Car are just as spectacular though. You mention Lac Louise in an earlier post, are the 5 glaciers at the far end of lake still visible or have they receded back out of sight?

[bulldog]

Hi Brian
We only stopped off a lake Louise for 30 minutes , walked down to lake by what is now a huge very costly hotel. I do no remember seeing any glaciers at what would be the far (northern) end. However it was drizzle and low cloud so might have just not been able to see them

[bulldog]

Just realised have missed out pictures of the skywalk will add , just watching the Croatia match